The $5,000 award, sponsored by the Barry Bonds Family Foundation, is named in honor of veteran San Francisco radio talk show host and NABJ Hall of Fame Inductee Ray Taliaferro. The grant is awarded annually to an entrepreneurial venture that informs, engages and empowers a local, national, or global audience of readers and listeners.

Armstrong is the founder Mario Armstrong Media, LLC creates content and products to educate and entertain audiences about the digital world that we live in. Armstrong has his own recurring segment on NBC's TODAY show entitled "Mario's Top 3." He is a co-producer and host of "Cubed" a web video series sponsored by AT&T, where Mario helps educate entrepreneurs on technology solutions that can truly help their businesses grow. He is also a regular contributor to daytime TV talk shows.

“NABJ is proud to honor Mario Armstrong for his entrepreneurial endeavors. He has a strong brand which resonates with everyday people, and also with his fellow media professionals,” said NABJ President Bob Butler. “Mario is an inspiration to many of our members who aspire to launch their own media companies in an effort to ensure that diverse viewpoints and perspectives are heard. “

Before his career as a media personality, Armstrong worked in the tech industry for more than twelve years and was the first Chief Technology Officer of Baltimore City for then Mayor, Martin O’Malley. Armstrong also served as IT Director for the State of Maryland’s Tourism Department.

An advocacy group established in 1975 in Washington, D.C., NABJ is the largest organization for journalists of color in the nation, and provides career development as well as educational and other support to its members worldwide.